Can you vacation in the galapagos islands

These islands are an unique place in the world and we wanted to make the most of each day. Let us tell you: fulfilling this dream without going bankrupt is not easy, so if you also want to explore the enchanted islands on your own in the cheapest way, this is your guide. You will find all the necessary information to prepare your trip to the Galapagos : what to do on each island, the best tours , how to get there and how to move between islands , where to sleep, how many days to spend, best time to go, etc.

Update August get to know the new rules and requirements to visit Galapagos islands during the Covid pandemic here. The Galapagos Islands have been a protected National Park since , with specific rules to abide by. For example, you cannot be closer than 2 meters from the animals. These are all the rules. Number of islands : 18 main islands those with more than 1 km2 and several islets.

Currency : Dollar USD. Be careful, neither ATMs nor paying by card are common in Galapagos, so prepare to go carry lots of cash with you. More information in this section. Daily budget : Expensive. It will depend on whether you travel on your own, on a cruise and also your style of travel: you can get a sense of how much it cost us and how much it can cost you here. Climate : Pleasant all year round and quite unpredictable.

More information about the best times to visit the Galapagos islands here. Language : Spanish the Galapagos belong to Ecuador. Population : 25, people. More information about how to get a local SIM card here. Although you can visit the Galapagos without organizing much and deciding on the go something that we love to do , we recommend you to organize the trip a little bit before buying your flights , since unless you have unlimited days and budget, you will have to make many decisions based on those factors in order to make the most of your trip.

The first thing is to find out, depending on the days you have, what things are you most interest in, both because of the probability of seeing different animal species and for the weather.

We collaborated with Chokotrip to do some of the tours. The owner, Christian, knows a lot about Galapagos. He tested himself and works directly with different tour operators, and you can book the tours online on his website. Following are some of the questions we asked ourselves when planning this trip, that will probably help you prepare yours too. We read it everywhere and can confirm it: there is no bad time to go to the Galapagos.

Whatever the month, you will find wonderful fauna and flora and a rather unpredictable climate. Conclusion: every month has its advantages and disadvantages in Galapagos, and there is no bad month to visit the islands. In our case, we traveled in March and we loved it very hot to enjoy the beach and not a single rainy day in 2 weeks. Most countries do not need to manage the visa in advance or pay anything, since they receive 90 days free when entering the country.

The passport must be valid for 6 months or more to enter Ecuador. Ideally, you should check if you need a visa according to your country of origin at the competent authority. To get to the Galapagos, you must fly from Quito or Guayaquil Ecuador. We read that flights tend to be cheaper from Guayaquil. So the first thing is to find a flight from where you live or other options if you live in or near Ecuador to Ecuador.

We recommend that you use rate comparators such as Skyscanner or Kiwi , which compare the prices of many companies and allow you to create alerts. There are several airlines that fly to the Galapagos, from Quito and from Guayaquil : Avianca , Latam and Aeroregional.

Ideally you should book the flights in advance , especially in high season although we bought them with less than a month and we got a good price.

We find the best price in Avianca but as we say, you should always compare. We heard that TAME a company that no longer exists is the worst company but we have no experience of our own.

Rules are updated frequently, you can check them in this post from Chokotrip. To access the Galapagos National Park everything is quite controlled. There is a specific control at the airport before check-in and after passing the usual security controls. You can check which items are prohibited in the list on the official website. The handbags are not sealed. Later you will have to pay more, when landing on the islands, you can read how much here. Before landing in the National Park, the aircraft cabin will be fumigated to remove any organisms that may be outside the scope of the pre-inspection.

Upon arrival, there are a series of protection and security measures that you will have to comply with, mentioned in this section. There is no compulsory vaccination to travel to Galapagos, except for the yellow fever vaccine if you come from or are going to any of the following countries: Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Brazil. In any case, although it is not mandatory, it is recommended. The best thing whenever you go to travel is that you go to the international vaccination center in your country, with enough time in advance to indicate what your trip to Ecuador and Galapagos will be like and tell you which vaccinations they recommend you.

We always recommend traveling with travel insurance , to avoid having to pay out of your pocket hundreds or thousands of dollars in the unfortunate event that something happens to you. We always travel with IATI Seguros and we can recommend it, since with IATI you do not need pay anything they are in charge of sending you to a hospital or medical center in which they have collaboration agreements.

As we travel for several months each year, she hired the AxaSub one and she is very happy with it. If your trips are shorter, that is, if you only dive during your vacations once or several times a year, the ExtraSub is also a good option.

Still, we also recommend that you hire travel insurance for other things that may happen to you for example a robbery or if you need anything specific that may be better in a private hospital. You must keep the traffic control card until you leave Galapagos, do not lose it!

Well we asked and nobody knew what to answer …. Probably for being one of our favorite destinations in the world we would say that it pays off to go even for just a long weekend a very expensive weekend, though. But being realistic, honest, aware of the ecological footprint of getting there and the luxury and privilege of being able to set foot on these protected islands, in our opinion you should spend at least one week in Galapagos.

If you can stay longer, you will not regret it: the list of places and experiences in this paradise is endless, even without doing tours. Before going, we had defined that we would spend at least one week, and in the end we spent two weeks. We would love to have stayed a few more days in Isabela and San Cristobal, without tours. As a curiosity, if you fall in love with the islands as much as we do and you want to stay living there, you cannot.

To live in Galapagos you have to be a descendant of a resident or marry someone from Galapagos. As in everything in this life, there are advantages and disadvantages in both modalities. We told you that we have never been seduced by cruises, so from the start this modality had fewer ballots, but here is a list of the pros and cons that we have been able to find out. Depending on your budget and travel style, one or the other modality will be more adjusted to your needs.

If money is not a problem, you have saved for this unique experience and do not want to worry about anything, the cruise may be your option. This last option implies more prior and on-site research. You can also do a combination of both : travel to the Galapagos for free and take a cruise for a few days; But beware! Each one has its particularities and all of them are interesting.

Although we have our favorite one, there is no better island. We have found this information scattered over the internet, so based on what we have learned and our own experience we have grouped it here for you. In the itineraries section we have suggestions for different routes depending on the amount of days you have, and give you tricks to organize your trip to the Galapagos. Get ready because it is full of surprises and in 2 weeks we did not have enough time nor dollars to see everything we wanted; so if you go few days, you will have to choose!

Here is an official map of the Galapagos Islands , you can download the map with bigger resolution here. The Galapagos Islands are part of the country of Ecuador in South America , and they are located off the coast of Ecuador km to the east , in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Here you can easily locate the Galapagos islands on a map. While in Galapagos, Darwin found that living beings are not stable, but adapt to the changing conditions of their environment to ensure the survival of its species, revolutionizing the natural sciences with his theory of natural selection.

The Galapagos archipelago has been protected since , when the National Park was created, and the park was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in It has 18 main islands with more than 1 km2 in addition to many small islets. For example, Isabela Island has 5 currently active volcanoes. The islands move towards the South American continent about 4 cm a year.

This means that the oldest islands are on the right side on the east and the newer ones on the left side on the west. Nowadays the most recent island is just above the hot spot: Fernandina Island. Galapagos Islands were originally inhospitable masses of volcanic lava. In theory, there were several factors that led to the explosion of biodiversity on the islands. Mountains are said to have interacted with the atmosphere, forming rains that eroded and generated soil. The winds and the birds brought seeds and spores here.

In addition, the islands are located right in the middle of a fast cold water ocean current more than 1 meter per second at meters depth called Humboldt, which comes from Antarctica towards the north; when the current collides with the islands it pushes up the colder water full of nutrients more information here.

These are the main reasons that make Galapagos Islands one of the most biodiverse places in the planet. Our days in Galapagos were ones of constant learning, as if we were living inside a documentary. We became aware of how the magma hot spot in the center of the earth is spitting out new islands every millions of years, while the species adapt to changing conditions and change themselves.

Will sea lions improve their leg-fins in the future to be better crossing roads while still being excellent swimmers? If you visit here you can see the stories we made as an introduction to the islands. For this reason, it has a special place in our memory. We picked up our backpacks at the only arrival belt of the small airport, sealed the transit card that promised us giant tortoises, and walked to the center of Puerto Baquerizo less than 15 min away.

The hot temperature made the asphalt ripple on the horizon and we no longer knew if what we were seeing was real or an animal mirage. Sleeping in the shade of a tree, stretching in the middle of the road between bikes and the some cars, crossing a zebra crossing. We walked a bit more and there were dozens wandering on the beach at sunset. Pelicans fishing, an iguana on top of a rock watching everything quietly and a pair of blue-footed boobies witnessing the scene.

Welcome to Galapagos! They are like the dogs of the island, but instead of barking, you hear grunts. And a pretty strong smell. The beach that is right at the beginning of the boardwalk was the one that gave us the best first memory in Galapagos, with dozens of sea lions at sunset. Come to Playa Oro at sunset and enjoy the show: the silhouettes of the sea lions will move among the orange lights of the sunset while some of they play, the babies are breastfed, sleep or bathe in the sand.

By the way, unfortunately Galapagos sea lions are in danger due to oil spills and deep-sea fishing. The best beach near Puerto Baquerizo where there is also kind of food court: three beach bars where you can eat or have a drink. It is usually more crowded than the other points of the island precisely because of the proximity to the population but it is perfect for ending a day where you can contemplate the sunset or a dip among the young sea lions, as we did in that March afternoon.

It is also iguana territory, we saw a few of them. You can walk approximately 20 minutes from Puerto Baquerizo, with no shade or by taxi. In Galapagos it is always a good idea to carry snorkel equipment with you, you never know when the see can surprise you. In this same kiosk you can request a taxi to go back if it is open. We have been told that the Interpretation Center is very interesting, it explains the origin of the islands very well, but we ended up not visiting it.

It will take you about 20 minutes through well-indicated trail and in very good condition, among trees, cacti, birds and some spiders beware of the spider webs on the trail until you reach the viewpoint and the snorkel area.

There is no place there to rent snorkel equipment so you should bring your own or rent it in Puerto Ayora. On the way back we stopped at Punta Carola beach , a beautiful rocky beach with a lot of sand, few people and, of course!

To find the authenticity that Puerto Baquerizo maintains, away from tourists, all you have to do is to detour in one of the streets perpendicular to the boardwalk. It is a highly demanded tour and it usually solds out, so we recommend that you book it in advance we booked it with Chokotrip.

The water around the rocks is home to numerous species of fish, sea turtles, rays and hammerhead sharks, so the practice of snorkeling or diving here is amazing we tell you more about it in the Diving section. We can assure you that we saw all these species underwater. It is also a refuge for many seabirds such as blue-footed boobies, as well as for sea lions. Additionally, you will have some time to enjoy a beach that, in our opinion, is one of the most beautiful beaches that we visited not in Galapagos, but in the World: Cerro Brujo Beach, with fine white sand, a sea with different shades of blue and the kicker rock in the background.

There is also the possibility that the day you go this stop will be at other beaches, equally paradisiacal, such as Playa Manglecito or Playa Puerto Grande we did not visit those.

Find out which beach you will visit when booking your tour or ask before. We chose this tour and not the tour which also includes Leon Dormido because in the tour you spend a lot of time on the boat and less time in each place. Included : Snorkeling equipment masks and fins , short wetsuit, life jacket, transport by boat, towel, lunch, guide certified by the Galapagos National Park who speaks Spanish and English.

Book the tour to Kicker Rock with Chokotrip. If you want to do a little of everything, this is your tour. After that you will have time to rest, bath in the sea and good snorkel on the Gardner islet. Included : Snorkeling equipment masks and fins , short wetsuit, life jacket, transport by boat, towel, lunch, snack, guide certified by the Galapagos National Park who speaks Spanish and English. And, of course, snorkelling in the Pitt Islet among fish, sea lions, sea turtles and corals.

Book the tour to Punta Pitt with Chokotrip. You also have the possibility of going to the Natural Galapaguera of the island, being this variation of the tour more expensive and the trekking harder with a duration of 3 hours instead of 1 hour. You will also end up snorkeling but before that you will have seen how the giant tortoises have survived in their habitat. The island of Lobos is just 25 minutes by boat from Puerto Baquerizo, so if you want to be very close to blue-legged calves, frigatebirds and sea lions in their natural habitat on a half-day tour, this is your choice.

Book the tour to Isla Lobos with Chokotrip. There are taxis in town that do this tour, so you should stop any of them and negotiate the tour. If you are 2 people like us, you can find partners at your accommodation or at the tourism office.

Included : Taxi and its driver stopping in 4 places; Lunch and any equipment are not included. After climbing for about 10 minutes, you will contemplate the views of this impressive volcanic freshwater lagoon , responsible for supplying drinking water to the entire island. When we arrived a few frigatebirds were flying over the lagoon.

The males of the magnificent frigatebirds can be identified by their pink gular pouch, which turns red and gets inflated in periods of reproduction. Galapagos frigatefird. Photo AussieActive.

If it is cloudy when you arrive something normal , ask the taxi driver to leave it for the return trip. We did it that way and, at that time, we enjoyed it alone and with sunny weather.

The second stop will be Galapaguera where you can see giant tortoises in the wild and also see a few tiny ones in the hatchery in the Jacinto Gordillo breeding laboratory. The hatchery is made to preserve the species and improve the land turtle population on the island: when they lay eggs, they are immediately collected for artificial incubation.

The little turtles that are born are cared for in captivity until they are 5 years old, at which time they are repatriated to their natural habitat. Remember to always respect the rules of the park, the distance of the animals and just observe, do not touch! One of the best beaches for surfing in San Cristobal, hopefully you will meet some turtle and some sea lions while swimming.

We decided to enjoy more the beautiful Playa Puerto Chino accompanied by a few pelicans and boobies. We wanted our accommodation to be in Puerto Baquerizo , with a kitchen to save some money, and we found it on Airbnb. Another aspect that we look at when looking for accommodation specifically in the Galapagos is that it includes free filtered water, since in the islands tap water is not drinkable for any type of consumption. Do not be surprised if the Galapagos accommodations seem expensive to you compared to the quality and the prices of the rest of Ecuador; they are.

The room was spacious, the air conditioning worked perfectly, the hot water was excellent and the kitchen is shared although in our case there was never anyone using it except us. The arrival process was smooth and, very important, included free cold filtered water. The location is near the stadium, about 10 min walk from the center of the town.

While we were there we noted down some options that seemed great to us as an alternative to ours, for other types of budgets. The breakfasts, by the photos, also look really nice:. We cooked most of our dinners at home. The boats also offer some of the most eco-friendly options around, which are of growing importance to an area already seeing the negative effects of climate change.

No matter when you go, the adventure is sure to be unique and wonderful. June through December are the cooler and drier months. Skies can be cloudy and gray. January through May are the warmer and wetter months, but the rain creates brilliantly clear blue skies between showers — great for photography.

March and April tend to be the hottest and wettest months, while August tends to be the coolest time. Meanwhile, water temperatures vary throughout the year because of the powerful ocean currents in the archipelago. In the cool and dry season June through December , the colder currents dominate and the water temperature dips low.

A wet suit likely provided by your boat or hotel may be required while snorkeling during these months. However, the upside is that the cold current brings in huge quantities of plankton, which attract hungry marine life. Last-minute deals are sometimes available for travelers who can afford to spend a few days searching for sales after arriving. Dive boats, in particular, tend to fill up fast because there are so few of them. These include:. Anything that might have seeds or spores clinging to it, such as the soles of your shoes and any outdoor gear or camping equipment, should be washed and inspected thoroughly before being brought to the islands.

Flights from the U. However, Quito is located over 9, feet, so altitude can be a problem for travelers arriving from lower elevations. However, the hotel and restaurant selection is much more limited in Guayaquil. For a more casual experience, head to sister restaurant Zfood , where a Hamptons-style fish-shack vibe is replicated perfectly and seafood reigns supreme. Go for the tasting menu to get a full sense of what Maldonado calls cocina local. At Lua Restaurante , Peruvian and Ecuadorian flavors meet and mingle, and the crowd here is very sophisticated.

The restored building dates back to , and houses a spa where you can book a massage in a repurposed church bell tower. Seymour Airport, which runs entirely on sun and wind power , can be found on tiny Baltra Island, which is separated from Santa Cruz Island by a narrow channel. Released in , this documentary cleverly splices video footage, letters, and other archival material to recount a real-life murder mystery involving a self-proclaimed baroness, her lovers, and other settlers on Floreana Island in the s.

Cate Blanchett narrates one of the main characters. On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. Ecuador has it all! Join us to discover all the amazing hidden gems Ecuador has to offer.

As one of the most famous visitors to the Galapagos, Charles Darwin and his impact on the world and the Islands continues to draw people to this amazing destination year after year.

So, who is Darwin and what did he actually do? Galapagos is the perfect year round destination because of its location on the equator and warm island weather. However, there are a few factors that might help you decide your perfect time to travel either during the dry or wet season The Galapagos Islands are known for their fearless and curious wildlife. Learn more about each of these amazing creatures below. Check out all the unique destinations you can visit in the Galapagos Islands.

Let the Galapagos experts give you free travel advice and planning for your perfect adventure to the Enchanted Islands. Galapagos Islands.

Safely Experience the Wonders of Galapagos Wander through these remote islands and interact with unique wildlife to celebrate life in one of the most wonderful places in the world. Call the Galapagos experts now! Contact us NOW for exclusive deals! More Promotions Cruise Availability. Galapagos Cruises. A cruise is by far the most popular and complete way of visiting the Galapagos Islands. Darwin's Footsteps.

Enjoy some of the best views from Santa Cruz and Isabela, plus two more islands. Galapagos Treasure Quest. Visit the best visitor points of Santa Cruz and explore two additional amazing Islands. This program includes full-day diving tours and an expedition to a self-chosen island.

Galapagos Full Pack. The Island's Secrets. Explore all the best spots of Santa Cruz Island and visit two amazing Islands nearby. Multisport Adventure.